For fans of The Simpsons, Halloween isn’t complete without the spooky satire of the Treehouse of Horror episodes.
Each season The Simpsons delivers a new spooky episode to add to the anthology series within a series that has etched itself into the heart of The Simpsons pop culture.
The Treehouse of Horror episodes offer a unique blend of humour, horror, and a hearty homage to the eerie tales that have gripped us through the ages — so let’s dive into our top 10 The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes to line up and watch this Halloween.
Which Treehouse of Horror episode do you think is the best?
Treehouse of Horror V (Season 6, Episode 6)
Considered one of the best, Treehouse of Horror V brings a strong mix of parody and surrealism. “The Shinning,” a spoof of The Shining, sees Homer slowly descend into madness while guarding a remote hotel. His hilariously wild-eyed performance and the twisted version of the Torrance family saga capture both the horror and absurdity of the original. “Time and Punishment” offers a unique twist on time-travel chaos, as Homer’s innocent tampering with a toaster drastically changes reality each time he tries to fix his mistake. From dinosaur-dominated worlds to nightmare versions of the Simpsons’ lives, the segment is a brilliant mix of dark humour and sci-fi. Closing with “Nightmare Cafeteria,” where Springfield Elementary turns students into lunch, adds a gruesome yet farcical edge to the episode, making it a fan favourite for its willingness to go darker than usual.
Treehouse of Horror IV (Season 5, Episode 5)
Known for its devilishly fun tales, this episode opens with “The Devil and Homer Simpson,” where Homer sells his soul to Satan, portrayed by none other than Flanders, for a single doughnut. The courtroom battle for Homer’s soul is filled with ridiculous legal antics, but it also highlights the show’s ability to take simple concepts and spin them into hilarious and memorable moments. “Terror at 5½ Feet,” inspired by The Twilight Zone, puts Bart in the passenger seat as he sees a gremlin tearing apart the school bus, brilliantly blending horror with laughs. “Bart Simpson’s Dracula” closes the episode with a campy yet spooky take on vampire lore, casting Mr Burns as the vampiric villain. The mix of pop culture references and dark comedy keeps this episode an all-time classic.
Treehouse of Horror VII (Season 8, Episode 1)
This episode amps up the creepy factor with “The Thing and I,” a dark family secret where Bart’s long-lost evil twin has been living in the attic. It’s an eerie twist on the typical sibling rivalry theme. The following segment, “The Genesis Tub,” takes a more sci-fi approach as Lisa inadvertently creates an entire microscopic civilization, leading to a power struggle between her and the world she built. Topping things off is “Citizen Kang,” a biting political satire where the aliens Kang and Kodos impersonate U.S. presidential candidates, offering a hilarious take on political campaigns and voter manipulation. The episode is a blend of horror, science fiction, and sharp social commentary, making it one of the series’ most well-rounded instalments.
Treehouse of Horror III (Season 4, Episode 5)
“Clown Without Pity” kicks things off with a spooky homage to killer doll horror, as a cursed Krusty doll begins terrorising Homer, offering a blend of absurdity and genuine horror vibes. “King Homer” follows as a hilarious spoof of King Kong, reimagining the giant ape story with Homer in the starring role. The final segment, “Dial Z for Zombies,” taps into classic zombie apocalypse themes as the Simpson family accidentally triggers a zombie uprising in Springfield. This episode manages to balance campy comedy with moments of actual tension, and the zombie storyline in particular has become a beloved staple.
Treehouse of Horror VIII (Season 9, Episode 4)
A post-apocalyptic twist kicks things off in “The HΩmega Man,” where Homer becomes the last man standing after a nuclear explosion wipes out Springfield, and his attempts to survive (while having fun) are hilariously bleak. “Fly vs. Fly,” a parody of The Fly, follows as Bart’s ill-fated experiment leads to a body-swap mishap that merges his DNA with a fly. The final segment, “Easy-Bake Coven,” takes us back to Salem’s witch trials, where Marge is outed as an actual witch. This episode stands out for its edgier approach to dark humour, blending traditional horror themes with the typical wacky energy of The Simpsons.
Treehouse of Horror II (Season 3, Episode 7)
Classic tales of horror meet The Simpsons in one of the earliest Treehouse of Horror episodes. “The Monkey’s Paw” gives Homer and his family cursed wishes, leading to increasingly chaotic consequences. Bart’s omnipotent powers in “Bart’s Nightmare” are both hilarious and unsettling, as he forces everyone around him to comply with his whims. The third story, where Mr Burns turns Homer into a Frankenstein’s monster by transplanting his brain into a robot, is both spooky and farcical, cementing this episode as one of the series’ most inventive early entries.
Treehouse of Horror IX (Season 10, Episode 4)
Filled with strange and hilarious concepts, this episode features “Hell Toupee,” where Homer becomes possessed by Snake’s killer hairpiece, turning him into a murderer. “The Terror of Tiny Toon” sends Bart and Lisa into the world of Itchy & Scratchy, blending animated violence with meta-humour. Finally, “Starship Poopers” reveals Maggie as the alien love child of Kang, leading to a bizarre and hilarious intergalactic showdown on The Jerry Springer Show. These absurd, off-the-wall plots make this one of the more memorable Treehouse of Horror episodes.
Treehouse of Horror X (Season 11, Episode 4)
A parody of the slasher genre, “I Know What You Diddily-Iddily-Did,” puts the Simpsons in a murder mystery after accidentally killing Flanders. The episode’s chaotic energy is amplified in “Desperately Xeeking Xena,” where Bart and Lisa become superheroes battling villains. The Y2K panic gets the apocalyptic treatment in “Life’s a Glitch, Then You Die,” tapping into real-life fears while keeping the laughs rolling.
Treehouse of Horror I (Season 2, Episode 3)
The first-ever Treehouse of Horror set the standard for Halloween episodes to come. “Bad Dream House” offers a haunted house tale with a twist, while “Hungry are the Damned” introduces Kang and Kodos, adding a sci-fi spin to the proceedings. The show’s version of Poe’s “The Raven,” narrated by James Earl Jones, is both haunting and humorous, setting a high bar for future instalments.
Treehouse of Horror XI (Season 12, Episode 1)
Our last pick in our Treehouse of Horrors list features “G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad,” where Homer becomes a ghost after failing to complete a task for heaven. “Scary Tales Can Come True” offers a darkly comic take on classic fairy tales, and “Night of the Dolphin” pits Springfield against an uprising of killer dolphins. With its mix of light-hearted horror and absurd scenarios, this episode delivers a fun, spooky treat.
Binge on the spine-chilling humour of The Simpsons with every Treehouse of Horror episode on Disney+.
